Crucial Launches the Pro Series Memory

[TheLostSwede]

Last year, Crucial canned its Ballistix brand of gaming focused memory, but it seems like the company still wants to offer its customers a more premium product, as Crucial has just introduced its new Pro series of memory products. Crucial will offer its new Pro series in both DDR5 and DDR4 flavours at either DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3200 speeds. It should be noted that the DDR4 modules still rely on a green PCB, while the DDR5 modules get the same black PCB as Crucial's regular DDR5 modules. Beyond the heatsink, there isn't much that differs between the Pro series and Crucial's regular modules, but there is one thing that might matter to potential buyers.

Crucial has added support for AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 to its Pro series of modules. In the case of AMD EXPO this only applies to DDR5 modules, whereas the DDR4 modules support Intel XMP 2.0, in this case a feature its standard DDR4 modules lack. This should make it easier for end users to take advantage of the extra performance offered by some of these modules. That said, as Crucial has stuck to JEDEC timings, taking the Pro DDR5-5600 UDIMM kit as an example, you end up with timings of 46-46-45-45 at 1.1 Volts, where competing products have timings in the range of 36-36-36-36, although usually at 1.25 Volts or higher. Even as far as JEDEC timing goes, Crucial has chosen the middle ground for DDR5 5600, as there is a timing option from JEDEC that supports 40-40-40-40, which would make more sense for a more premium product. Price wise, a 32 GB kit with two 16 GB modules of DD5-5600 modules carries an $11 price premium over Crucials standard modules, with a retail price of US$114.99 versus US$103.99, but there are better options out there at this price point.



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[eidairaman1]

Their Ballistix "Gaming" are very good and to boot had no rgb vomit. Oh well, just a name change.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Their Ballistix "Gaming" are very good and to boot had no rgb vomit. Oh well, just a name change.

There were RGB versions of Ballistix memory at the very end. See the link in the article and you'll see a picture of one such module.

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

 

[Chaitanya]

There were RGB versions of Ballistix memory at the very end. See the link in the article and you'll see a picture of one such module.

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

They had tracer versions since DDR1 days and slowly added colour selection(long before rgb craze) for leds since DDR2 days.

 

[eidairaman1]

There were RGB versions of Ballistix memory at the very end. See the link in the article and you'll see a picture of one such module.

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

I only bought the Non RGB modules, worked flawlessly in an Asrock Steel Legend B550, unlike the vengeance lpx from corsair.

I believe Crucial is going where the money really is since the desktop pc space is over saturated with "Gaming" This and that.

I wouldnt be surprised if they release some High End stuff on DDR5 as the market migrates from DDR4

They had tracer versions since DDR1 days and slowly added colour selection(long before rgb craze) for leds since DDR2 days.

Yup I had some they were Gold Heatsink with Green and Red LED, it saddened me when I fried 1 via ESD.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I only bought the Non RGB modules, worked flawlessly in an Asrock Steel Legend B550, unlike the vengeance lpx from corsair.

Corsairs DDR4 LPX modules were a dumpster fire for AMD. Had a set of 3200 MHz modules myself that never went above 2933 MHz with my old Ryzen 7 1700.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Corsairs DDR4 LPX modules were a dumpster fire for AMD. Had a set of 3200 MHz modules myself that never went above 2933 MHz with my old Ryzen 7 1700.

On an ASUS board?

 

[TheLostSwede]

On an ASUS board?

Yeah, it was, the X370 Prime.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Yeah, it was, the X370 Prime.

Don't blame the RAM there. It is ASUS.

 

[KrazyT]

Ballistix was my go-to Ram whitout hesitation ...
Nice and clean, working flawlessly ...

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

Maybe they'll assure better compatibility this way ?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Don't blame the RAM there. It is ASUS.

Nah, loads of people had issues with LPX modules and first and second gen Ryzen CPUs at the very least, regardless of motherboard.

Maybe they'll assure better compatibility this way ?

Considering they offer EXPO and XMP profiles, why would they only stick to JEDEC timings? Obviously it's guaranteed to work, but as a "pro" product, it feels lacklustre.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Nah, loads of people had issues with LPX modules and first and second gen Ryzen CPUs at the very least, regardless of motherboard.

I just know more than you do in regards of ECNs.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I just know more than you do in regards of ECNs.

Lucky you, but this was a common issue, which has been reported by a lot of people, not just here, but on multiple forums, using different combinations of hardware with the Corsair LPX modules being the only common denominator. Also, we're way off topic here now.

 

[DY69SX]

Corsairs DDR4 LPX modules were a dumpster fire for AMD. Had a set of 3200 MHz modules myself that never went above 2933 MHz with my old Ryzen 7 1700.

Well I have set of 2x8gb 3600 LPX C16 on MSI B550 PRO VHD and they work flawlessly on that board and I even tighter timings until they crash but my current set of 2x16gb 3600 Fury Renegade C16 and I can't even tight half of the stuff because it's crashing

 

[Ferrum Master]

Lucky you, but this was a common issue, which has been reported by a lot of people, not just here, but on multiple forums, using different combinations of hardware with the Corsair LPX modules being the only common denominator. Also, we're way off topic here now.

Yes the fix was aimed that that memory, probably many vendors screwed up and didn't comply with the specifications. The fix was in clocking department. Just wrong value ranges. Later it was silently "fixed" for those who complain, you know how these things roll.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Well I have set of 2x8gb 3600 LPX C16 on MSI B550 PRO VHD and they work flawlessly on that board and I even tighter timings until they crash but my current set of 2x16gb 3600 Fury Renegade C16 and I can't even tight half of the stuff because it's crashing

I didn't say all LPX modules and in your case, it was clearly quite a few years later and not the same modules.
This was specifically in the early day with some batches of LPX modules at speeds around 3200 MHz.
Sometimes it's just bad luck and the modules only do what they're sold as, it comes down to how much extra leeway the manufacturers leave in there after they've binned the chips.
Again, we're way off topic now.

 

[DY69SX]

I didn't say all LPX modules and in your case, it was clearly quite a few years later and not the same modules.
This was specifically in the early day with some batches of LPX modules at speeds around 3200 MHz.
Sometimes it's just bad luck and the modules only do what they're sold as, it comes down to how much extra leeway the manufacturers leave in there after they've binned the chips.
Again, we're way off topic now.

I know it was back in the day of Ryzen 1k and 2k but as much I remember it was AMD faults which was fixed with 3k series

 

[TheLostSwede]

I know it was back in the day of Ryzen 1k and 2k but as much I remember it was AMD faults which was fixed with 3k series

Considering most other memory didn't have the same issues after a few AGESA/UEFI updates... I would say it was something specific to that batch of modules.

 

[olymind1]

These don't seem like Pro or Premium models, just their princing are.

G.Skill Trident Z5 DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR5-5600, CL28-34-34-89, on-die ECC - 118€, tax included
G.Skill Trident Z5 DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR5-6000, CL30-38-38-96 - 130€, tax included

Wouldn't pick these over G.Skill ones and still don't understand why they ended their BallistiX lineup.

 

[maxfly]

Considering most other memory didn't have the same issues after a few AGESA/UEFI updates... I would say it was something specific to that batch of modules.

Agreed, lpx were utter trash in the early days of Ryzen. Which is why Ballistix 3600s became so popular (my personal go tos)for AMD builds before Crucials inexplicable axing of the Ballistix line.
Like olymind1, I have no idea why they made such a terrible decision. I haven't bought a single Crucial module since. There are always better deals available when I'm looking for memory it seems. Crucial gear never comes up on my radar anymore. If it does, they aren't competitive technically or fiscally. This new naming scheme doesn't seem to have changed anything significantly enough for that to change anytime soon. Shame, Ballistix were always competitive on all levels.

 

[Chomiq]

Bring back Ballistix branding.

Just look at the white kit of cheapo Sport LT's:

White PCB, low profile, no RGB nonsense.

They later downgraded this to every color having black PCB:

This new one gets green one instead.

 

[Woomack]

There were RGB versions of Ballistix memory at the very end. See the link in the article and you'll see a picture of one such module.

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

This is exactly the same memory as their latest "Classic" modules (5200/5600). The same SPD/XMP and used Micron IC. I could make 6200 CL32-44-44 ~1.40V on AMD ... the same for 2x16GB and 2x32GB kit (the classic version without heatsinks). I wasn't testing it on Intel, but at 6400 already were some problems with stability, so I guess that Intel wouldn't help much with OC. On the other hand, you can push these modules to 6000-6200 CL40-44-44 1.10V, so they're still not bad for tight SFF where you fight with temps.

Don't blame the RAM there. It is ASUS.

No matter what happened recently, ASUS still has the best BIOS and RAM support and they always had. There is a reason why most counting RAM brands put ASUS motherboards on QVL in the first place and why their motherboards are almost the only ones on top-speed RAM QVL.
Corsair LPX RAM has a long history of compatibility issues, mainly with Gigabyte motherboards. They had 3 years straight issues with stability, and a lot of people were complaining around the web.

The same as some other brands, Crucial plays safe as they sell a lot of RAM anyway. I just don't get why the Pro series has exactly the same specs as the "classic" one, but they added a standard heatsink. They are using IC, which is rated at 5600 1.1V/JEDEC specs, so SPD, XMP, and EXPO are the same. XMP and EXPO logos are only for marketing purposes as it wouldn't change anything if there was only SPD.

 

[TheDeeGee]

There were RGB versions of Ballistix memory at the very end. See the link in the article and you'll see a picture of one such module.

The Pro modules have far worse timings, as Crucial doesn't seem to want to deviate from JEDEC specs, but it'll be interesting to see how these overclock.

Their RGB software sucked though.

I ended up replacing my kit with the same but without RGB.

 

[Od1sseas]

5600Mhz lol

 

[TheLostSwede]

5600Mhz lol

Hence Pro, not Gamer...